Arms And Sleepers - Matador

For a band so adept at inspiring fitting visual images, the violent implications of a title like ‘Matador’ are misleading. Duo Max Lewis and Mirza Ramic combine a small army of electronic scratches and crackles with diverse instruments to create a ruminative and sedate album. ‘The International’ recalls The Cinematic Orchestra with laidback jazz beats and hazy evocations, ‘The Architekt’ hinges on nostalgic piano and boy / girl drone-folk singing, while the title track rides an alternative hip-hop beat, replacing rap with echoed vocals and analogue warmth. The highlight, though, is the transfixing ‘Twentynine Palms’, a beautifully paced number that will melt even the coldest of hearts.